Consumer Reports magazine checked out 14 moisturizing body lotions from names like Aveeno, Vaseline, and Jergens, as well as store brands from CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, and Target.
"Our testers rounded up 26 women to see how well each of the lotions moisturized over the course of a day," said Jody Rohlena with Consumer Reports.
All the testing is done inside this humidity-controlled chamber. Testers use an instrument to measure the moisture level in each panelist's skin before applying the moisturizer, then after applying the moisturizer at intervals of two hours, five hours, and finally 24 hours.
Up & up extra healing moisturizer from Target was the least moisturizing lotion.
Consumer Reports' sensory panelists also evaluated the feel of each lotion, as well as the aroma. "Some smelled a bit like plastic. As far as skin feel, some were thin, others were a bit waxy," said Rohlena.
Some of the moisturizers were virtually aroma-free. Among them was Cetaphil moisturizing lotion, which was also the most moisturizing lotion tested. It costs about $10.
As for Walmart's Equate that says it's comparable to Cetaphil; Consumer Reports' tests show it moisturizes nearly as well and costs around four dollars less.
